Publication date
1950
Usage Public Domain Mark 1.0
This film shows the activities at an apple orchard in the Pacific Northwest.
Although the orchard specializes in Delicious apples, a man is shown planting seeds from another variety which has stronger roots and trunks. Buds from Delicious trees are next grafted onto the hardy trunks, where they flourish and eventually become fruit. Pruning and irrigation also help the trees to become sturdy and productive. The spring blooms are pollinated by bees, by ladybugs, and by human help, as illustrated in several scenes. The workers who gather, sift, and weigh the pollen are also pictured. Some workers remove the less desirable fruit from the trees to improve the rest, and a helicopter dusts large areas with pest-killing mixtures.
In the fall when the apples are ripe, the pickers are shown carefully emptying their full picking bags into wooden crates for hauling to the packing house. The commentator stresses the necessity for preventing bruises which would spoil the perfect fruit. The boxes are unloaded from the low trucks and the apples are washed, sorted, inspected, wrapped in tissue paper, and packed in boxes, which then go to the shipping room.
Filmed in the Wenatchee Valley of Washington state.
Although the orchard specializes in Delicious apples, a man is shown planting seeds from another variety which has stronger roots and trunks. Buds from Delicious trees are next grafted onto the hardy trunks, where they flourish and eventually become fruit. Pruning and irrigation also help the trees to become sturdy and productive. The spring blooms are pollinated by bees, by ladybugs, and by human help, as illustrated in several scenes. The workers who gather, sift, and weigh the pollen are also pictured. Some workers remove the less desirable fruit from the trees to improve the rest, and a helicopter dusts large areas with pest-killing mixtures.
In the fall when the apples are ripe, the pickers are shown carefully emptying their full picking bags into wooden crates for hauling to the packing house. The commentator stresses the necessity for preventing bruises which would spoil the perfect fruit. The boxes are unloaded from the low trucks and the apples are washed, sorted, inspected, wrapped in tissue paper, and packed in boxes, which then go to the shipping room.
Filmed in the Wenatchee Valley of Washington state.
Reviews
Reviewer:
JayKay49
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
May 17, 2018
Subject: When Was This?
I fully expected to see Wilma Flintstone in there sorting apples, and a stegosaurus or two wandering by that river. The deep brown sepia tone had me thinking "drought of the century - bring on the water!" which (thank goodness) they eventually did.
From what I've heard, pretty much the same basic principles still hold today. Apples are, in fact, very susceptible to insects and other stuff that causes crop failures or poor quality wormy apples, not fit for sale. It is not an easy to do orchard crop.
Subject: When Was This?
I fully expected to see Wilma Flintstone in there sorting apples, and a stegosaurus or two wandering by that river. The deep brown sepia tone had me thinking "drought of the century - bring on the water!" which (thank goodness) they eventually did.
From what I've heard, pretty much the same basic principles still hold today. Apples are, in fact, very susceptible to insects and other stuff that causes crop failures or poor quality wormy apples, not fit for sale. It is not an easy to do orchard crop.
Reviewer:
HappySwordsman
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
February 27, 2018
Subject: Cute
Subject: Cute
I enjoyed watching this despite the poor colour. I found this film to be relaxing. My only complaint is that most of the film is lacking background music.
Reviewer:
Spuzz
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
November 18, 2012
Subject: Women with allergies need not apply
Subject: Women with allergies need not apply
Fun little film that teaches us how apples are grown. We are shown what they do, but it just seems rather primitive for this time period. I dunno, I expected with an orchard this size that there would be more mechanization involved (with the planting and what not). I did like the many steps involved, especially with the hand-pollenization of the apple trees. Those women must have no allergies! Plus, layers of insecticide are poured on! And then theyre picked and packed and off they go. Really interesting actually. Reccomended!